1st Graders Have Projects Too

Matthew Duncan was stuck for an idea for a cool science fair project. So the 13-year-old did what any eighth-grader would do. He searched the Internet, typing in "hot science fair projects" and there it was: a site on solar energy.

A few weeks spent toiling in his basement and Duncan's "Solar Cooker" saw the light of day. "It cooks food better than a barbecue," said Duncan, a student at Cesar A. Batalla School, explaining his project at the Bridgeport public schools' Science Expo 2007.

The fair brought together 148 projects from 17 city schools for judging Wednesday at the University of Bridgeport Student Center. Winners move on to the State Science Fair next month at Quinnipiac University, and will be feted March 21 at the Discovery Museum.

"Interest this year was outstanding," said Aresta L. Thompson, director of science for the school system, looking over the projects. "The kids have done a great job," she said.

The projects ranged from 1st grade science projects to 12th grade science projects - from measuring how long the flavor lasts in different kinds of bubble gum to figuring out a way for commercial fishermen to harvest more clams.

Despite a mouthful of braces, Emerald Delgado, 13, a seventh-grader at Dunbar School, spent six hours and two minutes chewing a single stick of gum. Delgado and lab partner ShieAnn Myers, also 13, found wintergreen flavor won hands down as the longest lasting.

"We think it's because the mint lasts longer than fruit-flavored," said Delgado.

Duncan said the most difficult part of his solar project was finding a box that would absorb the heat. The student and his father ended up painting a box black and using a spotlight they found in the basement. "See how light sends heat through the box," he said, adding it cooks hot dogs so well they don't need toppings to make them taste good.

Allan Patto and Shelia Sousa, seniors at the Aquaculture School, spent an entire semester working on their project, "A Study for Commercial Aquaculture of Mercenaria Utilizing Lantern Nets via a Long Line System."

The pair found using Chinese lantern-style nets in combination with traditional cages significantly increased fishermen's clam harvest. "They could double their income using both," said Sousa. The team walked away with first prize in the grade 12 division.

For each grade, a first, second and third prize was awarded, plus one or two honorable mentions. Winners all will receive cash prizes of $25 to $100. Some students seemed to be unaware that cash was coming their way.

Amanda Anderson, 14, an eighth-grader at Multicultural Magnet School, won a first-place award for "Aqua-Farming II: Flowing H2O Makes it Better." It's a project that she has been working on for years and which was entered in the state science fair last year. "I'm getting closer. I've found oxygen is key," she said.

In addition to the school awards, Malcolm Pirnie Inc., an environmental engineering firm based in White Plains, N.Y., handed out $100, $200 and $300 cash prizes to the top 11th and 12th grade environmental science projects.

The top four juniors especially 1st grade science projects were awarded prizes at the expo also became eligible for a $10,000 scholarship to the University of Bridgeport.

Henry Kelly, deputy schools superintendent, said he looks forward to the day when some of the students in the room could be his doctors or nurses.

Supt. of Schools John Ramos, who put in a brief appearance at the event, said the expo aims not only to showcase scientific exploration, but to get students to think, collaborate and work as a team.